Here is a quick and tasty way to cook young artichokes: thin-sliced, slowly braised in a skillet in their own juices, and served with a shower of soft pecorino. The method is simple, and will yield delicious results even with the larger, more mature artichokes you'll find in the supermarket.

This dish makes a great vegetarian sandwich, or, for a carnivore, a topping for a juicy hamburger. Artichokes prepared this way are
also a great appetizer topped with a poached egg or a thin slice of prosciutto.

A heavy-bottomed skillet or sauté pan, 12-inch diameter or larger, with a tight-fitting cover

Preparation

Trim the artichokes, slice very thinly, and soak the slices in acidulated water.

Pour the olive oil into the skillet, and set it over medium heat. Scatter the garlic and onion in the pan. Cook for 4 minutes or so, stirring and tossing occasionally; season with the salt and peperoncino.

When the vegetables are sizzling and wilting, lift the artichoke slices from the acidulated water, drain briefly, and drop them into the skillet. Stir well, cover the pan tightly, and let everything cook slowly, giving the pan a shake now and then.

After 10 minutes, the artichoke slices should be softeningif they're hard and the pan is dry, add a couple spoonfuls of acidulated water and continue cooking, covered. Braise for 15 to 20 minutes total, until the artichokes are tender and lightly colored. Cook uncovered for more caramelization if you like.

Turn off the heat, and spread the artichokes out in the skillet bottom. Scatter the shredded cheese evenly on top, and cover the pan. Let it melt into the vegetables for several minutes before serving.

Recent Review

I wish the recipe were more specific about "trimmed." I didn't trim away enough of the thick leaves. I cooked a little longer than suggested and used scissors to trim away some of the thick leaves as it cooked, but there were still some fibrous bits. I added lemon zest, but it was still a bit bland. I prefer basic steamed whole artichokes with lemon butter.